Our Technology : Mobile Broadband
Our Theme : Horses
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Targets:
Week two targets:
(x) 1. Set wiki page up
(x) 2. Dossier of examples of technology - links - clips - articles -
(x) 3. Decide on context - launch/announce on wiki
(x) 4. Read assessment brief
Week three targets:
(x) Review week 2 targets
(x) 1. Begin construction and explanation of curriculum using technology
(x) 2. Begin our videos
(x) 3. Complete Religious Studies
(x) 4. Finalise the curriculum
(x) 5. Make our wiki page more interesting!!!!!
(x) 6. Planning Videos
(x) 7. look at requirement for our project
( ) 8. Organize session time for our videos (out of school times)
Below:
1. ART - Horses in Famous Artwork - Julie Bates
2. SCIENCE - The Anatomy of the Horse - Julie Bates
3. FOOD TECHNOLOGY - The Feeding of the Horse - Julie Bates
4. PHYSICAL EDUCATION - Bringing the Horse Back Into Work - Julie Bates
5. RELIGIOUS STUDIES - The ethics of horse riding - Joanna Speed
6. MUSIC - Pas de Deux - Joanna Speed
7. HARD TECHNOLOGY- Different types of cross country jumps - Joanna Speed
8. ENGLISH- Horses in TV and Film- Joanna Speed
9. SOCIAL STUDIES- History of Dressage- Julie Bates
MOBILE BROADBAND Definition:
Mobile Broadband can be interpreted in two different ways; wireless internet or internet on mobile phones. This means that wherever you are, as long as you are within range, you may acccess the internet, including email, from your wireless-enabled laptop or mobile phone.
Effects on Teaching:
We feel that mobile Broadband will really revolutionize the way we are taught and the way we learn. We are starting to see this technology really emerge now, with school such as Dio and St Cuths using laptops in almost every class, and wireless broadband for convenience wherever we go in the school. Mobile phones now give us access to the internet wherever we are; be it at after-school activities, sleeping in on a Sunday or working at school. Our teachers will soon be able to contact us and give us our homework and notes on our mobiles, in fact we have already seen some of this with Nathan Kerr last year. Nathan Kerr was once a teacher working at Onehunga High, when one day his students approached him about a new way of teaching. He ended up giving his students their homework amongst other things on their cellphones' SD cards and even won an international award for his idea. Cellphones could be very useful tools around the classroom, light and easy to carry, as well as being very sophisticated and filled with memory, are also an instant information source. An instant calculator in maths, a quick peek at a video of Hurracaine Katrina for Social Studies... the possibilities are endless. This technology will not be entirely suitable for the younger students to use, as not only are there plenty of unsafe sites out there but they probably do not have the brainpower to work such technology.
Past, Present and Future of Mobile Broadband:
Mobile Broadband has not been around too long at all, and has really only emerged during the last few years or so, longer for wireless internet. Mobile Phones themselves are a fairly recent invention compared to some other technologies, but have progressed at a rapid pace throughout the last decade. Currently, mobile broadband can be quite expensive on a mobile phone- in fact, I have a distinct memory of using up about twenty dollars in ten minutes as I wanted to check my trademe auctions. It is also very widespread now, I found out a few weeks ago that up in the Remuera shops there is now a WIFI hot spot, and some in other suburbs as well. A lot of my friends, as well as my school, have wireless internet, though there are concerns about it being a possible cause of cancer from some experts- could wireless internet be a possible health hazzard for the future? In the future we predict that wherever we go, we will have access to high-speed wireless internet, and as it becomes a huge part of life we will wonder how we ever got along without it. The plans we currently have for our wireless will become increasingly cheaper, as bigger, better and faster broadband is brought in. One thing is for sure, is that mobile broadband is really going to revolutionize the way we live and learn.
Art: Horses in Famous Artwork
Horses have been a main subject in artwork throughout history. In fact the first primitive paintings by early man on cave walls were of horses. For example the Lascaux cave artwork in france, near Bordeaux. Then as horses were a means of warfare there are countless battle scenes. Peoples position in society can be reflected by owning a horse, hence portraits of knights in armor. The romantic english pastoral scenes include workhorses. The beauty of horses is explored by many sculptors. Here are two beautiful, historical horse art peices, which I have chosen as they have been famous through history and both have beautiful equine lines:
George Stubbs - Whistlejacket
Whistlejacket - George Stubbs, 1762
This is an english painting called 'Whistlejacket' by George Stubbs. Painted in 1762, this horse was a famous racehorse owned by the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham. She had Stubbs paint most of the horses in her stables, but this one was the most famous and successful as a painting. Mobile broadband can be used to share pictures with others and use them as backgrounds etc.
It is interesting to see portrait painting used here to record an animal. Horses are indeed seen not so much as pets but as valuble items or investments, especially racehorses. Horses become a hobby and even an obsession for many. Also they are a large industry. Socialy at this time this painting is a record for the Marquess of her stock, a display of her wealth, especially by the calibre of the horses breeding and racing success. The painting is also a decorative artwork in her home collection.
This painting appears fairly accurate to the horses true anatomy such that it is useful to see the breeding of her stable, I would say this is a Thouroughbred x Arabian, which is also the main basis of todays racehorses.
The stance of the horse is playful and alert. It looks rather pretty and feminine which ties in with it being made for the Marquess. Racehorse paintings for men can be more traditional, more in the style of steeplechasing or war.
This leads us onto
Horse Statue - Leonardo Da Vinci
This was to be the largest statue ever cast in full bronze, though the original was never finished. This photo is of a clay model of what the finished product would have been like, it resides in Culturalpark, Milan.
This statue portrays well the power and muscles of the war horses. It is prancing and excited, and looks very ready for battle and excitement. The style and position suggests that it may appeal more to men, as they enjoy the racing, warfare and 'sheer power' side of equestrian. An important Major or General in the war may have had a more prestigious horse than others, more like the one shown, giving this statue a political side as well.
Resting Mare - Julie Bates, 2009
The medium for this sculpture was a self-made modelling clay (see below for recipe). This smooth, maleable gough is very easy to knead, displace and smooth. The clay itself is fairly weighty, hence the sculpture quickly took form as a resting mare as it would not support the weight even on four legs. So the resting mare started to take her own form from the clay medium. The clay was very suitable for shaping muscle and body form for the mare. I like the light and dark which was possible to mould, with the light on it you can see for the photograph the shadow. I chose to stay with the natural colour of the clay because it shows the light and dark in these tones. The sculpture has become my first grey pony mare, Connie, who was pure white. She is a Connemara (Irish) pony and has this sturdy, muscular compact shape. As I have given her to a quiet home for retirement, this sculpture is dedicated to her as she rests.
Modelling Clay Recipe: ·1/2 cup cornflour ·1 cup baking soda ·2/3 cup water Cook over medium heat until thick, stirring well. Knead well when cooked.
Dries hard, can be painted.
By Julie Bates
English- Horses in TV and Film
Ever wondered what the life of a an equestrian film star may be like? For the horses of Saddle Club, Flicka and Racing Stripes, it's a very busy one, as I found out.
For all films and TV series, the horses are bought or borrowed especially for the production, and all with special training on dealing with the set equipment (you could imagine it probably looks a lot like weapons of mass destruction to them), their specialty area (whether it be dangerous stunts or just looking pretty) and they must always be co-operative (Directors will not hold up filming for a temperamental horse!).
The horses are all trained and handled on set by... the horse trainer! Graeme Ware Jnr is a well-respected, fourth-generation horse trainer and trained horses for The Saddle Club, Lord of the Rings and The Last Samurai, to name a few. Often, when it seems as though it is just the rider and horse on screen together, Graeme is actually only a few metres away -behind the camera- signaling the horse to do whatever it's doing. In the case of free scenes, he explains that he uses a mat, which the horse must gallop up to till he/she reaches it, to then stop. He says of this: 'I put a mat down on the ground and send the horse the horse to it a few times from a short distance away a few times, just so they know what I want. Then I can do it from quite a distance away... have the horse gallop up to it and stand on the mark. This makes it look as thought the horse id running free and that it's just the horse with no one calling him.'
In almost every case, the lead roles are played by three different (but very similar) horses. One horse is the main one used for general scenes, the second is a stunt horse used for rearing and riderless scenes (this horse has been taught to ignore rider aids to avoid accidental queing), and the third is working on wide or distance shots (e.g. a horse running through the paddock while you watch from a birds-eye). It is pretty hard to find three identical horses, so to help some of the horses get into character or look like their duplicates, the are dyed the appropriate colour and have facial and leg marking painted on.
In conclusion, the horses of a film set are all very highly trained but in a very different way than we are used to. We sometimes don't think about all the little details that are a part of a big movie, but a lot of work obviously goes into the equestrain side of the set.
SST - The History of Dressage
Modern dressage is the result of many years of evolution from many different cultures and purposes. It is now a beautiful, ever-changing art, though it was once a big part of military life...
The history of dressage goes back to the Greek and Roman times. In the beginning dressage was a a form of movements, designed to be very helpful for soldiers going into battle. They could quickly turn away from enemies (pirouette), leap over the heaps of infantry (capriole), maneuvre easily through big crowds at speed (flying changes) and much more. But during the Medievil times dressage all but died away, due to the heavy armor on both horse and rider. The weight and restriction this proved made any complicated movements almost impossible, and movements like the capriole became acutely dangerous.When pistols and rifles were invented however, dressage and similar movements became very popular again, as the armory was greatly reduced. the old movements were now re-introduced, and more were 'invented'.The soldiers who survived the wars came back had quite enjoyed the new equestrian movements they had learned, and contined practising them. After a while dressage became known as a 'sport' or 'discipline'. Competitions were held and dressage became well known and enjoyed by many. Dressage now known as 'the basis to all riding'. It will greatly assist you in any other disciplines, in fact many choose to have dressage as their only discipline.
Evolution has created this wonderful art, that continues to get better and more beautiful every day. Enjoyed by horse, rider and spectator dressage is truly a lovely thing.
By Julie Bates
Science:
The anatomy of the horse is a very complex thing. In many ways, it is alike to humans, though it is also very different. Horses are mammals, meaning they have warm blood and can create their own body heat.
The stomach of the horse is rather interesting. It is halfway between the stomach of a Ruminant and a Non-Ruminant. Non-Ruminants digest fat, carbohydrates and protein using enzymatic action. Ruminants digest this in the fore-stomach using fermentation and then enzymatic action later on in the small intestines. Horses, however, are somewhere in between the two of these. All of their 'true' digestion takes place in the fore-gut, before the cecum, and is done by enzymatic actions. This accounts for 52-58% of the crude protein digestion and virtually all soluble carbohydrate digestion (fiber excluded). In addition, bacterial or microbial digestion of fibre occurs in the cecum and colon where large quantities of volatile fatty acids are produced through fermentation and are subsequently absorbed. Furthermore, the horses have rather small stomachs, only about 8-12 litres, which makes it very hard to believe that they eat for around 22 hours per day. In truth, they have very quick digestive systems, the emptying time of the stomach after being filled is about 12 minutes and the food passage rate through the small intestine is approximately 1 foot per minute. This results in the food reaching the cecum only 1 1/2 hours, hence the common name for horses: hay burners! Another strange thing about the equine digestive system; the stomach is constantly producing hydrochloric acid, meaning they must constantly eat. If they do not eat enough, the acid will finish dissolving any food left and start dissolving the walls of the stomach after a while, meaning stomach ulcers.
Another fascinating part; the hoof. The hooves are very different to human feet. As well as a different bone structure, the frogs (see below) help pump blood around the body. This is why you will rarely see horses lying down; if they lie for too long, they do not have enough blood flow to keep them going. Like your feet, a horses hooves grow, but unlike your feet, they will keep growing very quickly and must be trimmed every 6 weeks, in order to keep the horse sound. You might be wondering 'what do horses do in the wild? When the is nobogy to trim their feet?'. Wild horses gallop for miles every day, over many different types of terrain, and this wears their hooves down, keeping them at a good length. But when the horses are tamed, we put them in paddocks much smaller than the open plains, so they do not have so much room to gallop and often just settle down to graze for longer. Here is an example of a healthy, well-trimmed hoof:
And an overgrown hoof: This will be very painful and annoying for the horse.
Many horses have oddly shaped hooves or hoof problems; these need corrective shoeing. We use special shoes to help pull the hooves back into shape or give them extra support in places of need.
We can conclude that the anatomy of the horse is indeed a very different and interesting thing. Their bodies and therefore their needs are much different to ours, so we must be careful when treating them and even with just general healthcare. Take care to give correct doses and make sure to use products as instructed, as we cannot always be sure of the outcome - treat your horse as you would like to be treadted in their situation!
By Julie Bates Hard Technology
Report on Different Cross CountryJumps
Rolltop A rolltop is just that, a fairly wide jump with a half-barrel-shaped top. It is a nice jump to ride, as because of the shape it gets a good, rounded jump from the horse. Banks & Drops These jumps are not upright, but up/down jumps. They may be singular (above) or built as a staircase, with multiple banks all in a row. These jumps may be jumped up or down, and it is very important that the rider stays balanced as this obstacle requires a large amount of concentration from both rider and horse to negotiate properly. Ramp These jumps can be hazardous, especially when placed downhill, as the takeoff/landing point is sometimes unclear. They basically consist of slanted planks, and can be quite wide. Brush A hedge or brush jump has a solid base with –you guessed it- a bit of hedge sticking out. The hedge is usually around half of the total height , and is not a solid fence, so the horse can actually jump through it. Water Jump Perhaps the most interesting jump on the course, the Water Jump has horses jumping into, out of and around the water. Sometimes, they even jump jumps in the water!Many horses do not like this jump, so often there is an option- go through the water jump and risk getting penalties, or go for a longer but safer route and risk time penalties. It is especially entertaining to see many experienced riders get dumped into a muddy pond, shake themselves off, and continue the rest of the course absolutely sopping wet. Skinnies
A skinny can really be any type of jump, just half the length it normally would be. This may not sound so intimidating, but they are often the death of many a successfulcombination. There is little room for error as there is often only just enough roomfor the horse to get through (this one is fairly generous), and it is pretty easy for the horse to duck out. Ditch
A ditch is just that- a hole in the ground, which horses are supposed to jump over. Ditches come in various widths and many horses find it spooky because itis quite different from other jumps, and also because they can not see what is inside it before takeoff. Riders are also sometimes a bit scared as there are many stories of horses breaking their legs after stepping into a ditch and also of riders being chucked into a dirty ditch. Trakehner A trakehner jump is also a very difficult one to negotiate, as it consists of a ditch with a log on top. Most horses find it a bit ‘spooky’, and added with the width + height it is a respectable obstacle. Sometimes the ditch is filled with water. Zig-Zag This jump is very difficult to negotiate, and must be jumped with the spike facing toward you, so that if something happens while you are in the air, the spike is behind you , and your horse is not jumping into it. Another possible way to jump it is to come in at and angle and jump a side of a zig-zag.
Feeding - Food Technology
Horses and feeding is an important subject for any horse ownner. We control very much the diet of our horses, and feed them according to their weight and exercise load, also their age and any other environmental influences e.g. soil conditions.
Horses are herbivores. Their staple diet as we know is grass. Hay, which is dried grass, is also very good, and then their are types of chaff which is chopped grass, although dried to a different degree. There are three main types of feed; bulks, concentrates and additives. The concentrate provides basic nutrition and energy, while the bulk ‘bulks’ out the feed and makes the concentrates more palatable. Additives are then more vitamins on top of this as many horses have different vitamin requirements.There are different feeds for horses with different energy levels.
There are many, many different feeds on the market, here is an example of just a few:
Bulks:
Peavine Chaff
Made of chopped, dried grass and dried peas on the pod
Sweeter than other bulks, good for fussy horses
Puts on medium amounts of weight
Lucerne Chaff
Made of chopped, dried grass
Not as sweet as Peavine chaff
Medium amouts of energy
Lots of nutrition
Medium amounts of weight
Oaten Chaff
Made of the outer layers of chopped grass & a few oats
very energising
'fatty'
Concentrates:
Mitavite Xtracool
VERY calming, great for excitable/over-energetic horses
pelleted
Mitavite Gumnuts
specially formulated for older horses
contain many special vitamins and minerals for older horses
pelleted, but when wet become extremely palatable
NRM Performa
very energizing, for horses in hard works or needing lots of energy
fattening if not burned off
made of an oat, maize etc. mix
Oats
VERY high in energy
must be crushed or boiled before eaten
very fattening
Sugabeet
EXTREMELY fattening, used for skinny horses that need more weight
must be soaked for 24 hours in cold water or 3 hours in boiling water before eaten, otherwise it will expand inside the horse, making the horses stomach explode!
No.2 Plus Soya
Made with many different types of grains
Is mollassed, making it very sweet
Medium energy
quite 'fatty'
NRM Low GI Sport
a low GI pelleted feed for horses in medium - hard work
gives long-lasting energy
average weight amounts
Additives:
Electrolytes
a more advenced form of salt
replaces the salts lost when the horse sweats
Glucosamine
for arthritic horses
helps their joints
Magnesium
This is a calming additive for excitable horses
many do not like the taste so it may need to be mollassed
Linseed
This brings out the oils in the coat and makes them shiny!
Livamol
This enhances the coat colour and helps to strengthen hooves
Garlic
Prevents colds
Devils Claw
A natural herbal version of glucosamine, possibly not quite as strong
Bute
A very strong anti-inflammatory and pain relief, should only be used when recommended by the vet as has side effects on the liver
Fortevite
a mixture of many essential vitamins and minerals
DigestRite
Helps make feed more palatable and digestable for younger and older horses
As you can see, there are many different feeds for different horses and you must feed your horse correctly. Here are some examples of feeds for different horses: The feed for an energetic pony in medium work with average weight:
450grams Mitavite XtraCool
900grams Peavine Chaff
2/3 scoop Fortevite
1 scoop Electrolytes
1 scoop Linseed
1 scoop Livamol
The feed for an old pony in light work with more weight:
200grams Mitavite Gumnuts
400grams Peavine Chaff
2/3 scoop Fortevite
2/3 scoop Electrolytes
1 tsp Glucosamine
1 scoop Devils Claw
1 scoop Linseed
1 scoop Livamol
To conclude, feeding the horse is spoken of as an art, not just a science. By this I mean knowing the correct mix for each particular horse, for each different season, and workload required. Reading the health of your horse and understanding it's nutrition needs. Incorrect feeding of horses can quickly cause severe health problems, such as colic, which can lead to sudden death. So it is vital to take horse care seriously, for example, never let your horse onto freshly mowed paddocks!
By Julie Bates
Bringing the Horse Back Into Work - Physical Education
Bringing the horse back into work is a process that should be taken slowly and carefully. The horse must not be overworked or over stressed, as this may cause injury due to the horses body not being used to strain. It is important to work out, and stick to, an excersize program with the necessary activity levels.
Here is an example of how they should be excersized:
Weeks 1-3: Begin with half an hour walking. this may continue for two to three weeks, gradually building up the time to 1 1/2 hours. This should begin on flat going with gentle hills gradually introduced. This walking period may need to be extended if the horse is extremely unfit or is returning after surrering from a tendon injury or similar.
Weeks 4-6: Basic flatwork can be introduced. Use serpentines, loops, transitions etc. and keep circles large. Avoid small circles and demanding excercises.Begin slow, short canter, gradually increasing in distance.
Weeks 7-10: Jumping can be introduced, starting with straightforward excersizes. Short easy gallops initially at no more than half pace.Continue hillwork and any specialised training your horse needs.
Weeks 11+: The horse is now in good fitness, most horses will require 1-1 1/2 hours 5 days per week to attain this level of fitness.
By Julie Bates
Religious Studies: The Ethics of Equestrian Sports
Equestrian is perhaps the most controversial sport ever, mainly because of the use of horses in sometimes seemingly abusive ways. However, it is rare for someone to truly educated on the subject before drawing a negative conclusion.
The first, and maybe most controversial, topic is that of horse racing. People mainly critique the fact that the horses are forced to run as fast as they possibly can, using excessive use of the whip, and also the high number of accidents caused by racing. Many people do not realise that the horse really, really, LOVE to run as fast as they can- jockeys often find it hard to stop them after their race. Those that don't simply don't run as fast as those that do, and hence their racing careers are short-lived. As for the issue of whipping, the horses are 'whipped' in a cirular motion, causing the whip to brush past the flank of the horse rather than hit it- unlike the whipping you may see in eventing. There are VERY strict rules put in place to prevent 'real' whipping and too much 'race whipping', and incredibly severe consequences for breaking them. Horse racing can be a very hazardous sport. When you have up to twenty young and highly-strung racehorses running as fast as they possibly can together and trying to overtake each other, it is inevitable. Every caution is taken, however, to minimise the risk.
Rodeo is also a hot topic of controversy, and perhaps the one that allows the most room for cruelty. This sport has many facets, and most include horses. the main disciplines are: calf roping, barrel racing, cutting and bronc riding. Barrel racing is an event in which the horse/rider combiation circle three barrels and return to the finish line in the least amount of time possible. Barrel Racing sparks little complaint as there is not much abusive about this event. Calf roping and cutting attract little concern on the horse's part -it can be quite a traumatic experience for the calf-, though leg injuries are common in cutting as a lot of engagement* of the hindquarters is required for the lightning-fast reactions required of the horse which puts a lot of strain on the hocks and lower leg. Bronc Riding is, perhaps, the event most popular for animal rights activists to take a shot at. This involves a bunch of daring cowboys paired with wild, unbroken horses that have a good buck in them. The cowboys then attempt to stay on for as long as possible and sometimes get extra points for sitting out big bucks. There are many reports of abuse to these horses by making them buck harder, most commonly using electrical devices. This is very much against the law, but it is not always possible to catch these people in the act as they are very careful about it and the penalties are not always consistent.
Whips and spurs are also often frowned upon as they appear to be hitting and stabbing the horse. The truth is that, when used properly, this equipment can be very beneficial to both the horse and rider. In FEI and Pony Club competitions, only blunt spurs are allowed and inappropriate use of the whip is very, very heavily penalised. The whip is primarily used to reinforce leg aid and comes in many different varieties. The first is the lungeing whip; this whip is used to give commands to the horse while lungeing (travelling on a circle around the handler while on a long lead) and supposedly does not make contact with the horse while in use. The second type is a jumping bat; this whip is small (usually around 30-40cm in length) and is designed to be light and to stay out of the way during jumping. The third type of whip is the dressage whip; this whip can be up to 110cm in length, and is designed to allow the rider to reinforce the leg aids with the flick of a wrist, rather than having to transfer the reins into one hand and reaching back as you may have to do with another type of whip. The last and perhaps most commonly used whip is the general riding whip. Usually no longer than 60cm, this whip is good for general, low level riding across a variety of disciplines. Whips are designed to reinforce leg aids, but are sometimes misused as a punishment instead. The aid for a horse to move forward is a nudge with the leg, if the horse does not respond it is followed up with a tap of the heels, and if you are still not going anywhere a tap of the whip is probably called for.
In the herd, there is a hierarchy. The lead mare makes all the decisions, and the lead stallion makes sure what she says goes. From then on there is a pecking order that may resemble a ladder- one rung for every horse, and this pecking order is sorted out and rearranged every day.The horses mainly communicate using body language, and all argument and reasoning is purely physical. The horses are truly brutal in their battles for dominance; with fierce biting and kicking there are many serious injuries- and as long as there is no one looking after them in the wild, these horses die often as a result of such fights. Every herd has to have a leader, and even if that herd only consists of two (you and your horse) it is important that you establish yourself as that leader as if you do not, the horse will and that is a very dangerous situation. As the horse will challenge your authority everyday by misbehaving a little and pushing the boundaries to see what he/she can get away with, it is important to respond in such a way that makes the horse respect and listen to you. If this means a quick smack with the whip, it is far less traumatic for both the horse and rider than for them to fight over leadership.
By Joanna Speed
Eques
Music: Pas de Deux
What is a Pas de Deux?
A dressage test is a sequence of figures performed by a horse and rider combination in a 20x40m arena or 20x60m arena; like so:
60m.gif (4808 bytes)
They are marked on their performance of each figure as well as their overall look and overall riding ability. A freestyle dressage test is a test choreographed by the rider with music that may be pre-made or made especially for the test by the rider. It is often a very insightful and beautiful display and very popular at the higher levels where the horse really does look like it is 'dancing' to the music. There is often a number of required movements to be incorporated into the freestyle, as well as a limit on how difficult it can be. Here is a youtube link to an excellent, practiced Freestyle by Anky van Grunsven, multi world champion dutch dressage rider on her two horses, Bonfire and Salinero. Here is a video of her at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen where they took gold in the KUR- a grand prix freestyle. She has been dubbed by many as 'The Queen of the KUR', and is thought unbeatable.
Here is another example of a good musical freestyle; though a much different one:
A 'Pas de Deux' is a freestyle performed by a pair of riders and horses and often is quite visually dynamic as, when performed well, it can look like a mirror or reflection.
I decided to enter in a Pas de Deux competition for the 'music' area of the curriculum for my project, where I will be entered in 2 different Pas de Deux with my two mounts, Bob & Amber as well as the mounts of my partners, Nikki with Katie and Annika with Jimmy. I am set to perform on the 25th of March after school. Here is a copy of the draw:
Welcome to Julie and Joanna’s Horizons Wiki Page
Our Technology : Mobile Broadband
Our Theme : Horses
Targets:
Week two targets:
(x) 1. Set wiki page up
(x) 2. Dossier of examples of technology - links - clips - articles -
(x) 3. Decide on context - launch/announce on wiki
(x) 4. Read assessment brief
Week three targets:
(x) Review week 2 targets
(x) 1. Begin construction and explanation of curriculum using technology
(x) 2. Begin our videos
(x) 3. Complete Religious Studies
(x) 4. Finalise the curriculum
(x) 5. Make our wiki page more interesting!!!!!
(x) 6. Planning Videos
(x) 7. look at requirement for our project
( ) 8. Organize session time for our videos (out of school times)
Below:
1. ART - Horses in Famous Artwork - Julie Bates
2. SCIENCE - The Anatomy of the Horse - Julie Bates
3. FOOD TECHNOLOGY - The Feeding of the Horse - Julie Bates
4. PHYSICAL EDUCATION - Bringing the Horse Back Into Work - Julie Bates
5. RELIGIOUS STUDIES - The ethics of horse riding - Joanna Speed
6. MUSIC - Pas de Deux - Joanna Speed
7. HARD TECHNOLOGY- Different types of cross country jumps - Joanna Speed
8. ENGLISH- Horses in TV and Film- Joanna Speed
9. SOCIAL STUDIES- History of Dressage- Julie Bates
Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com
MOBILE BROADBAND
Definition:
Mobile Broadband can be interpreted in two different ways; wireless internet or internet on mobile phones. This means that wherever you are, as long as you are within range, you may acccess the internet, including email, from your wireless-enabled laptop or mobile phone.
Effects on Teaching:
We feel that mobile Broadband will really revolutionize the way we are taught and the way we learn. We are starting to see this technology really emerge now, with school such as Dio and St Cuths using laptops in almost every class, and wireless broadband for convenience wherever we go in the school. Mobile phones now give us access to the internet wherever we are; be it at after-school activities, sleeping in on a Sunday or working at school. Our teachers will soon be able to contact us and give us our homework and notes on our mobiles, in fact we have already seen some of this with Nathan Kerr last year. Nathan Kerr was once a teacher working at Onehunga High, when one day his students approached him about a new way of teaching. He ended up giving his students their homework amongst other things on their cellphones' SD cards and even won an international award for his idea. Cellphones could be very useful tools around the classroom, light and easy to carry, as well as being very sophisticated and filled with memory, are also an instant information source. An instant calculator in maths, a quick peek at a video of Hurracaine Katrina for Social Studies... the possibilities are endless. This technology will not be entirely suitable for the younger students to use, as not only are there plenty of unsafe sites out there but they probably do not have the brainpower to work such technology.
Past, Present and Future of Mobile Broadband:
Mobile Broadband has not been around too long at all, and has really only emerged during the last few years or so, longer for wireless internet. Mobile Phones themselves are a fairly recent invention compared to some other technologies, but have progressed at a rapid pace throughout the last decade. Currently, mobile broadband can be quite expensive on a mobile phone- in fact, I have a distinct memory of using up about twenty dollars in ten minutes as I wanted to check my trademe auctions. It is also very widespread now, I found out a few weeks ago that up in the Remuera shops there is now a WIFI hot spot, and some in other suburbs as well. A lot of my friends, as well as my school, have wireless internet, though there are concerns about it being a possible cause of cancer from some experts- could wireless internet be a possible health hazzard for the future? In the future we predict that wherever we go, we will have access to high-speed wireless internet, and as it becomes a huge part of life we will wonder how we ever got along without it. The plans we currently have for our wireless will become increasingly cheaper, as bigger, better and faster broadband is brought in. One thing is for sure, is that mobile broadband is really going to revolutionize the way we live and learn.
Art: Horses in Famous Artwork
Horses have been a main subject in artwork throughout history. In fact the first primitive paintings by early man on cave walls were of horses. For example the Lascaux cave artwork in france, near Bordeaux. Then as horses were a means of warfare there are countless battle scenes. Peoples position in society can be reflected by owning a horse, hence portraits of knights in armor. The romantic english pastoral scenes include workhorses. The beauty of horses is explored by many sculptors. Here are two beautiful, historical horse art peices, which I have chosen as they have been famous through history and both have beautiful equine lines:Whistlejacket - George Stubbs, 1762
This is an english painting called 'Whistlejacket' by George Stubbs. Painted in 1762, this horse was a famous racehorse owned by the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham. She had Stubbs paint most of the horses in her stables, but this one was the most famous and successful as a painting. Mobile broadband can be used to share pictures with others and use them as backgrounds etc.
It is interesting to see portrait painting used here to record an animal. Horses are indeed seen not so much as pets but as valuble items or investments, especially racehorses. Horses become a hobby and even an obsession for many. Also they are a large industry. Socialy at this time this painting is a record for the Marquess of her stock, a display of her wealth, especially by the calibre of the horses breeding and racing success. The painting is also a decorative artwork in her home collection.
This painting appears fairly accurate to the horses true anatomy such that it is useful to see the breeding of her stable, I would say this is a Thouroughbred x Arabian, which is also the main basis of todays racehorses.
The stance of the horse is playful and alert. It looks rather pretty and feminine which ties in with it being made for the Marquess. Racehorse paintings for men can be more traditional, more in the style of steeplechasing or war.
This leads us onto
Horse Statue - Leonardo Da Vinci
This was to be the largest statue ever cast in full bronze, though the original was never finished. This photo is of a clay model of what the finished product would have been like, it resides in Culturalpark, Milan.
This statue portrays well the power and muscles of the war horses. It is prancing and excited, and looks very ready for battle and excitement. The style and position suggests that it may appeal more to men, as they enjoy the racing, warfare and 'sheer power' side of equestrian. An important Major or General in the war may have had a more prestigious horse than others, more like the one shown, giving this statue a political side as well.
Resting Mare - Julie Bates, 2009
The medium for this sculpture was a self-made modelling clay (see below for recipe). This smooth, maleable gough is very easy to knead, displace and smooth. The clay itself is fairly weighty, hence the sculpture quickly took form as a resting mare as it would not support the weight even on four legs. So the resting mare started to take her own form from the clay medium. The clay was very suitable for shaping muscle and body form for the mare. I like the light and dark which was possible to mould, with the light on it you can see for the photograph the shadow. I chose to stay with the natural colour of the clay because it shows the light and dark in these tones. The sculpture has become my first grey pony mare, Connie, who was pure white. She is a Connemara (Irish) pony and has this sturdy, muscular compact shape. As I have given her to a quiet home for retirement, this sculpture is dedicated to her as she rests.
Modelling Clay Recipe:
· 1/2 cup cornflour
· 1 cup baking soda
· 2/3 cup water
Cook over medium heat until thick, stirring well. Knead well when cooked.
Dries hard, can be painted.
By Julie Bates
English- Horses in TV and Film
Ever wondered what the life of a an equestrian film star may be like? For the horses of Saddle Club, Flicka and Racing Stripes, it's a very busy one, as I found out.For all films and TV series, the horses are bought or borrowed especially for the production, and all with special training on dealing with the set equipment (you could imagine it probably looks a lot like weapons of mass destruction to them), their specialty area (whether it be dangerous stunts or just looking pretty) and they must always be co-operative (Directors will not hold up filming for a temperamental horse!).
The horses are all trained and handled on set by... the horse trainer! Graeme Ware Jnr is a well-respected, fourth-generation horse trainer and trained horses for The Saddle Club, Lord of the Rings and The Last Samurai, to name a few. Often, when it seems as though it is just the rider and horse on screen together, Graeme is actually only a few metres away -behind the camera- signaling the horse to do whatever it's doing. In the case of free scenes, he explains that he uses a mat, which the horse must gallop up to till he/she reaches it, to then stop. He says of this: 'I put a mat down on the ground and send the horse the horse to it a few times from a short distance away a few times, just so they know what I want. Then I can do it from quite a distance away... have the horse gallop up to it and stand on the mark. This makes it look as thought the horse id running free and that it's just the horse with no one calling him.'
In almost every case, the lead roles are played by three different (but very similar) horses. One horse is the main one used for general scenes, the second is a stunt horse used for rearing and riderless scenes (this horse has been taught to ignore rider aids to avoid accidental queing), and the third is working on wide or distance shots (e.g. a horse running through the paddock while you watch from a birds-eye). It is pretty hard to find three identical horses, so to help some of the horses get into character or look like their duplicates, the are dyed the appropriate colour and have facial and leg marking painted on.
In conclusion, the horses of a film set are all very highly trained but in a very different way than we are used to. We sometimes don't think about all the little details that are a part of a big movie, but a lot of work obviously goes into the equestrain side of the set.
SST - The History of Dressage
Modern dressage is the result of many years of evolution from many different cultures and purposes. It is now a beautiful, ever-changing art, though it was once a big part of military life...
The history of dressage goes back to the Greek and Roman times. In the beginning dressage was a a form of movements, designed to be very helpful for soldiers going into battle. They could quickly turn away from enemies (pirouette), leap over the heaps of infantry (capriole), maneuvre easily through big crowds at speed (flying changes) and much more. But during the Medievil times dressage all but died away, due to the heavy armor on both horse and rider. The weight and restriction this proved made any complicated movements almost impossible, and movements like the capriole became acutely dangerous.When pistols and rifles were invented however, dressage and similar movements became very popular again, as the armory was greatly reduced. the old movements were now re-introduced, and more were 'invented'.The soldiers who survived the wars came back had quite enjoyed the new equestrian movements they had learned, and contined practising them. After a while dressage became known as a 'sport' or 'discipline'. Competitions were held and dressage became well known and enjoyed by many. Dressage now known as 'the basis to all riding'. It will greatly assist you in any other disciplines, in fact many choose to have dressage as their only discipline.
Evolution has created this wonderful art, that continues to get better and more beautiful every day. Enjoyed by horse, rider and spectator dressage is truly a lovely thing.
By Julie Bates
Science:
The anatomy of the horse is a very complex thing. In many ways, it is alike to humans, though it is also very different. Horses are mammals, meaning they have warm blood and can create their own body heat.
The stomach of the horse is rather interesting. It is halfway between the stomach of a Ruminant and a Non-Ruminant. Non-Ruminants digest fat, carbohydrates and protein using enzymatic action. Ruminants digest this in the fore-stomach using fermentation and then enzymatic action later on in the small intestines. Horses, however, are somewhere in between the two of these. All of their 'true' digestion takes place in the fore-gut, before the cecum, and is done by enzymatic actions. This accounts for 52-58% of the crude protein digestion and virtually all soluble carbohydrate digestion (fiber excluded). In addition, bacterial or microbial digestion of fibre occurs in the cecum and colon where large quantities of volatile fatty acids are produced through fermentation and are subsequently absorbed. Furthermore, the horses have rather small stomachs, only about 8-12 litres, which makes it very hard to believe that they eat for around 22 hours per day. In truth, they have very quick digestive systems, the emptying time of the stomach after being filled is about 12 minutes and the food passage rate through the small intestine is approximately 1 foot per minute. This results in the food reaching the cecum only 1 1/2 hours, hence the common name for horses: hay burners! Another strange thing about the equine digestive system; the stomach is constantly producing hydrochloric acid, meaning they must constantly eat. If they do not eat enough, the acid will finish dissolving any food left and start dissolving the walls of the stomach after a while, meaning stomach ulcers.
Another fascinating part; the hoof. The hooves are very different to human feet. As well as a different bone structure, the frogs (see below) help pump blood around the body. This is why you will rarely see horses lying down; if they lie for too long, they do not have enough blood flow to keep them going. Like your feet, a horses hooves grow, but unlike your feet, they will keep growing very quickly and must be trimmed every 6 weeks, in order to keep the horse sound. You might be wondering 'what do horses do in the wild? When the is nobogy to trim their feet?'. Wild horses gallop for miles every day, over many different types of terrain, and this wears their hooves down, keeping them at a good length. But when the horses are tamed, we put them in paddocks much smaller than the open plains, so they do not have so much room to gallop and often just settle down to graze for longer. Here is an example of a healthy, well-trimmed hoof:
And an overgrown hoof: This will be very painful and annoying for the horse.
Many horses have oddly shaped hooves or hoof problems; these need corrective shoeing. We use special shoes to help pull the hooves back into shape or give them extra support in places of need.
We can conclude that the anatomy of the horse is indeed a very different and interesting thing. Their bodies and therefore their needs are much different to ours, so we must be careful when treating them and even with just general healthcare. Take care to give correct doses and make sure to use products as instructed, as we cannot always be sure of the outcome - treat your horse as you would like to be treadted in their situation!
By Julie Bates
Hard Technology
Report on Different Cross Country Jumps
Rolltop
A rolltop is just that, a fairly wide jump with a half-barrel-shaped top. It is a nice jump to ride, as because of the shape it gets a good, rounded jump from the horse.
Banks & Drops
These jumps are not upright, but up/down jumps. They may be singular (above) or built as a staircase, with multiple banks all in a row. These jumps may be jumped up or down, and it is very important that the rider stays balanced as this obstacle requires a large amount of concentration from both rider and horse to negotiate properly.
Ramp
These jumps can be hazardous, especially when placed downhill, as the takeoff/landing point is sometimes unclear. They basically consist of slanted planks, and can be quite wide.
Brush
A hedge or brush jump has a solid base with –you guessed it- a bit of hedge sticking out. The hedge is usually around half of the total height , and is not a solid fence, so the horse can actually jump through it.
Water Jump
Perhaps the most interesting jump on the course, the Water Jump has horses jumping into, out of and around the water. Sometimes, they even jump jumps in the water! Many horses do not like this jump, so often there is an option- go through the water jump and risk getting penalties, or go for a longer but safer route and risk time penalties. It is especially entertaining to see many experienced riders get dumped into a muddy pond, shake themselves off, and continue the rest of the course absolutely sopping wet.
Skinnies
A skinny can really be any type of jump, just half the length it normally would be. This may not sound so intimidating, but they are often the death of many a successful combination. There is little room for error as there is often only just enough room for the horse to get through (this one is fairly generous), and it is pretty easy for the horse to duck out.
Ditch
A ditch is just that- a hole in the ground, which horses are supposed to jump over. Ditches come in various widths and many horses find it spooky because it is quite different from other jumps, and also because they can not see what is inside it before takeoff. Riders are also sometimes a bit scared as there are many stories of horses breaking their legs after stepping into a ditch and also of riders being chucked into a dirty ditch.
Trakehner
A trakehner jump is also a very difficult one to negotiate, as it consists of a ditch with a log on top. Most horses find it a bit ‘spooky’, and added with the width + height it is a respectable obstacle. Sometimes the ditch is filled with water.
Zig-Zag
This jump is very difficult to negotiate, and must be jumped with the spike facing toward you, so that if something happens while you are in the air, the spike is behind you , and your horse is not jumping into it. Another possible way to jump it is to come in at and angle and jump a side of a zig-zag.
Feeding - Food Technology
Horses and feeding is an important subject for any horse ownner. We control very much the diet of our horses, and feed them according to their weight and exercise load, also their age and any other environmental influences e.g. soil conditions.
Horses are herbivores. Their staple diet as we know is grass. Hay, which is dried grass, is also very good, and then their are types of chaff which is chopped grass, although dried to a different degree. There are three main types of feed; bulks, concentrates and additives. The concentrate provides basic nutrition and energy, while the bulk ‘bulks’ out the feed and makes the concentrates more palatable. Additives are then more vitamins on top of this as many horses have different vitamin requirements.There are different feeds for horses with different energy levels.
There are many, many different feeds on the market, here is an example of just a few:
Bulks:
Peavine Chaff
- Made of chopped, dried grass and dried peas on the pod
- Sweeter than other bulks, good for fussy horses
- Puts on medium amounts of weight
Lucerne Chaff- Made of chopped, dried grass
- Not as sweet as Peavine chaff
- Medium amouts of energy
- Lots of nutrition
- Medium amounts of weight
Oaten Chaff- Made of the outer layers of chopped grass & a few oats
- very energising
- 'fatty'
Concentrates:Mitavite Xtracool
- VERY calming, great for excitable/over-energetic horses
- pelleted
Mitavite Gumnuts- specially formulated for older horses
- contain many special vitamins and minerals for older horses
- pelleted, but when wet become extremely palatable
NRM Performa- very energizing, for horses in hard works or needing lots of energy
- fattening if not burned off
- made of an oat, maize etc. mix
Oats- VERY high in energy
- must be crushed or boiled before eaten
- very fattening
Sugabeet- EXTREMELY fattening, used for skinny horses that need more weight
- must be soaked for 24 hours in cold water or 3 hours in boiling water before eaten, otherwise it will expand inside the horse, making the horses stomach explode!
No.2 Plus Soya- Made with many different types of grains
- Is mollassed, making it very sweet
- Medium energy
- quite 'fatty'
NRM Low GI Sport- a low GI pelleted feed for horses in medium - hard work
- gives long-lasting energy
- average weight amounts
Additives:Electrolytes
- a more advenced form of salt
- replaces the salts lost when the horse sweats
Glucosamine- for arthritic horses
- helps their joints
Magnesium- This is a calming additive for excitable horses
- many do not like the taste so it may need to be mollassed
Linseed- This brings out the oils in the coat and makes them shiny!
Livamol- This enhances the coat colour and helps to strengthen hooves
Garlic- Prevents colds
Devils Claw- A natural herbal version of glucosamine, possibly not quite as strong
Bute- A very strong anti-inflammatory and pain relief, should only be used when recommended by the vet as has side effects on the liver
Fortevite- a mixture of many essential vitamins and minerals
DigestRiteAs you can see, there are many different feeds for different horses and you must feed your horse correctly. Here are some examples of feeds for different horses: The feed for an energetic pony in medium work with average weight:
- 450grams Mitavite XtraCool
- 900grams Peavine Chaff
- 2/3 scoop Fortevite
- 1 scoop Electrolytes
- 1 scoop Linseed
- 1 scoop Livamol
The feed for an old pony in light work with more weight:To conclude, feeding the horse is spoken of as an art, not just a science. By this I mean knowing the correct mix for each particular horse, for each different season, and workload required. Reading the health of your horse and understanding it's nutrition needs. Incorrect feeding of horses can quickly cause severe health problems, such as colic, which can lead to sudden death. So it is vital to take horse care seriously, for example, never let your horse onto freshly mowed paddocks!
By Julie Bates
Bringing the Horse Back Into Work - Physical Education
Bringing the horse back into work is a process that should be taken slowly and carefully. The horse must not be overworked or over stressed, as this may cause injury due to the horses body not being used to strain. It is important to work out, and stick to, an excersize program with the necessary activity levels.
Here is an example of how they should be excersized:
Weeks 1-3: Begin with half an hour walking. this may continue for two to three weeks, gradually building up the time to 1 1/2 hours. This should begin on flat going with gentle hills gradually introduced. This walking period may need to be extended if the horse is extremely unfit or is returning after surrering from a tendon injury or similar.
Weeks 4-6: Basic flatwork can be introduced. Use serpentines, loops, transitions etc. and keep circles large. Avoid small circles and demanding excercises.Begin slow, short canter, gradually increasing in distance.
Weeks 7-10: Jumping can be introduced, starting with straightforward excersizes. Short easy gallops initially at no more than half pace.Continue hillwork and any specialised training your horse needs.
Weeks 11+: The horse is now in good fitness, most horses will require 1-1 1/2 hours 5 days per week to attain this level of fitness.
By Julie Bates
Religious Studies: The Ethics of Equestrian Sports
Equestrian is perhaps the most controversial sport ever, mainly because of the use of horses in sometimes seemingly abusive ways. However, it is rare for someone to truly educated on the subject before drawing a negative conclusion.
The first, and maybe most controversial, topic is that of horse racing. People mainly critique the fact that the horses are forced to run as fast as they possibly can, using excessive use of the whip, and also the high number of accidents caused by racing. Many people do not realise that the horse really, really, LOVE to run as fast as they can- jockeys often find it hard to stop them after their race. Those that don't simply don't run as fast as those that do, and hence their racing careers are short-lived. As for the issue of whipping, the horses are 'whipped' in a cirular motion, causing the whip to brush past the flank of the horse rather than hit it- unlike the whipping you may see in eventing. There are VERY strict rules put in place to prevent 'real' whipping and too much 'race whipping', and incredibly severe consequences for breaking them. Horse racing can be a very hazardous sport. When you have up to twenty young and highly-strung racehorses running as fast as they possibly can together and trying to overtake each other, it is inevitable. Every caution is taken, however, to minimise the risk.
Rodeo is also a hot topic of controversy, and perhaps the one that allows the most room for cruelty. This sport has many facets, and most include horses. the main disciplines are: calf roping, barrel racing, cutting and bronc riding. Barrel racing is an event in which the horse/rider combiation circle three barrels and return to the finish line in the least amount of time possible. Barrel Racing sparks little complaint as there is not much abusive about this event. Calf roping and cutting attract little concern on the horse's part -it can be quite a traumatic experience for the calf-, though leg injuries are common in cutting as a lot of engagement* of the hindquarters is required for the lightning-fast reactions required of the horse which puts a lot of strain on the hocks and lower leg. Bronc Riding is, perhaps, the event most popular for animal rights activists to take a shot at. This involves a bunch of daring cowboys paired with wild, unbroken horses that have a good buck in them. The cowboys then attempt to stay on for as long as possible and sometimes get extra points for sitting out big bucks. There are many reports of abuse to these horses by making them buck harder, most commonly using electrical devices. This is very much against the law, but it is not always possible to catch these people in the act as they are very careful about it and the penalties are not always consistent.
Whips and spurs are also often frowned upon as they appear to be hitting and stabbing the horse. The truth is that, when used properly, this equipment can be very beneficial to both the horse and rider. In FEI and Pony Club competitions, only blunt spurs are allowed and inappropriate use of the whip is very, very heavily penalised. The whip is primarily used to reinforce leg aid and comes in many different varieties. The first is the lungeing whip; this whip is used to give commands to the horse while lungeing (travelling on a circle around the handler while on a long lead) and supposedly does not make contact with the horse while in use. The second type is a jumping bat; this whip is small (usually around 30-40cm in length) and is designed to be light and to stay out of the way during jumping. The third type of whip is the dressage whip; this whip can be up to 110cm in length, and is designed to allow the rider to reinforce the leg aids with the flick of a wrist, rather than having to transfer the reins into one hand and reaching back as you may have to do with another type of whip. The last and perhaps most commonly used whip is the general riding whip. Usually no longer than 60cm, this whip is good for general, low level riding across a variety of disciplines. Whips are designed to reinforce leg aids, but are sometimes misused as a punishment instead. The aid for a horse to move forward is a nudge with the leg, if the horse does not respond it is followed up with a tap of the heels, and if you are still not going anywhere a tap of the whip is probably called for.
In the herd, there is a hierarchy. The lead mare makes all the decisions, and the lead stallion makes sure what she says goes. From then on there is a pecking order that may resemble a ladder- one rung for every horse, and this pecking order is sorted out and rearranged every day.The horses mainly communicate using body language, and all argument and reasoning is purely physical. The horses are truly brutal in their battles for dominance; with fierce biting and kicking there are many serious injuries- and as long as there is no one looking after them in the wild, these horses die often as a result of such fights. Every herd has to have a leader, and even if that herd only consists of two (you and your horse) it is important that you establish yourself as that leader as if you do not, the horse will and that is a very dangerous situation. As the horse will challenge your authority everyday by misbehaving a little and pushing the boundaries to see what he/she can get away with, it is important to respond in such a way that makes the horse respect and listen to you. If this means a quick smack with the whip, it is far less traumatic for both the horse and rider than for them to fight over leadership.
By Joanna Speed
Eques
Music: Pas de Deux
What is a Pas de Deux?
A dressage test is a sequence of figures performed by a horse and rider combination in a 20x40m arena or 20x60m arena; like so:
They are marked on their performance of each figure as well as their overall look and overall riding ability. A freestyle dressage test is a test choreographed by the rider with music that may be pre-made or made especially for the test by the rider. It is often a very insightful and beautiful display and very popular at the higher levels where the horse really does look like it is 'dancing' to the music. There is often a number of required movements to be incorporated into the freestyle, as well as a limit on how difficult it can be. Here is a youtube link to an excellent, practiced Freestyle by Anky van Grunsven, multi world champion dutch dressage rider on her two horses, Bonfire and Salinero. Here is a video of her at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen where they took gold in the KUR- a grand prix freestyle. She has been dubbed by many as 'The Queen of the KUR', and is thought unbeatable.
Here is another example of a good musical freestyle; though a much different one:
A 'Pas de Deux' is a freestyle performed by a pair of riders and horses and often is quite visually dynamic as, when performed well, it can look like a mirror or reflection.
I decided to enter in a Pas de Deux competition for the 'music' area of the curriculum for my project, where I will be entered in 2 different Pas de Deux with my two mounts, Bob & Amber as well as the mounts of my partners, Nikki with Katie and Annika with Jimmy. I am set to perform on the 25th of March after school. Here is a copy of the draw:
By Joanna Speed